Objective Blast resistance genes in the rice cultivars from Three Gorges Reservoir area with high regional adaptability were identified and analyzed.
Methods Seventy rice cultivars from the blast-infected nurseries at Wanzhou and Enshi cities near the Three Gorges Reservoir were collected to test for resistance on the disease. Genes identified to be resistant to blast were analyzed using the PARMS SNP typing technique and RT-qPCR.
Results Other than a few from Enshi that were susceptible to blast, all 70 of the collected rice cultivars displayed medium to superb resistance to the disease. Overall, those came from Wanzhou were significantly more resistant than their Enshi counterparts. Twelve blast resistance genes were found, and 28.99% of the 70 cultivars carried 9 of the genes, while 2.9% carried 5 and 1.45% carried all. Pb1, Pita, Pit, and Pi5 were the most highly expressed among the resistance genes. They could be the key players in the disease resistance of rice in the area.
Conclusion Of the 12 genes with medium to superb resistance to blast on rice plants, Pb1, Pita, Pi5, and Pit could be of interest for breeding purpose.
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